Image pickup apparatus that shoots subject viewed through viewfinder, control method therefor, and storage medium

ABSTRACT

An image pickup apparatus that reduces the likelihood that when a user operates a display screen with a fingertip while not looking through a viewfinder, the user&#39;s fingertip will be falsely detected, and makes it less likely that erroneous operation resulting from the false detection will occur. When an eye proximity sensor detects an object approaching, the light emission luminance of a display unit is reduced, or display on the display unit is turned off. When the eye proximity sensor has not detected an object approaching, first-type display objects that execute assigned functions in response to touch operations are displayed farther away from the eye proximity sensor on a display surface of the display unit than second-type display objects that do not execute assigned functions even when touched. When a touch on any of the first-type display objects is detected, a function assigned to the first-type display object is executed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus that shoots asubject viewed through a viewfinder, a control method therefor, and acomputer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing acomputer to implement the method.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, a number of cameras which have an information displayunit, typified by a TFT liquid crystal display, mounted on a back sideof the camera so as to display states of the camera. Among such cameras,there are those equipped with an eye proximity sensor for automaticallyturning off display on the information display unit because a displaysurface of the information display unit is dazzling when a user looksthrough a viewfinder. This eye proximity sensor merely detects whetheror not an object has approached, and in general, an infrared sensor isused as the eye proximity sensor.

On the other hand, cameras in which a touch panel for detecting user'soperations is mounted on the display surface of the information displayunit have come on the market. In general, the viewfinder, the eyeproximity sensor, and the information display unit are provided on theback side of the camera. Thus, in cameras of which eye proximity sensorand touch panel are operated in combination, there may be a case whereerroneous operation occurs due to the tip of a user's nose touching thetouch panel when the user looks through the viewfinder.

To address this, it is described in Japanese Laid-Open PatentPublication (Kokai) No. 2001-059984 that in a camera, the touch panel isprohibited from being operated according to detection outputs from theeye proximity sensor, thus preventing erroneous operation. Also, it isdescribed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No.2004-165934 that in an image pickup apparatus, an operation on the touchpanel is switched to an operation different from that in normal cases soas to be isolated from contents displayed on the information displayunit so that erroneous operation can be prevented.

However, the conventional image pickup apparatuses described abovepresent problems explained hereafter. The techniques described inJapanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2001-059984 andJapanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2004-165934 relate tothe prevention of erroneous operation in the touch panel when the userlooks through the viewfinder, but do not contribute at all to preventingmalfunction of the camera resulting from false detection by the eyeproximity sensor.

Specifically, according to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai)No. 2001-059984, when the user operates the touch panel with a fingertipwhile not looking through the viewfinder, if the eye proximity sensordetermines the user's fingertip as the face, the information displayunit turns off despite the user's intent.

Also, according to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No.2004-165934, when the user operates the touch panel with a fingertipwhile not looking through the viewfinder, if the eye proximity sensordetermines the user's fingertip as the face, contents displayed on theinformation display unit change despite the user's intent. This makes itimpossible to perform desired operations.

A description will now be given of this problem with reference to FIG.7. FIG. 7 is a view showing an appearance of a back side of aconventional digital single-lens reflex camera. When the user tries tochange shooting conditions by touching an area where an aperture value“F8.0” is displayed on a TFT liquid crystal display 732 having a touchpanel in the digital single-lens reflex camera 731, a problem explainedhereafter may arise. The area where the aperture value “F8.0” isdisplayed is close to an eye proximity sensor 734, and hence the eyeproximity sensor 734 may falsely detect the user's fingertip as a user'seye looking through a viewfinder 738. Due to this false detection, thecamera 731 determines that the user is going to perform shooting, andturns off display on the TFT liquid crystal display 732. Namely, whenthe user is trying to touch the area where the aperture value “F8.0” isdisplayed, an erroneous operation occurs in which display is turned off,making it impossible to change shooting conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an image pickup apparatus that reducesthe likelihood that when a user operates a display screen with afingertip while not looking through a viewfinder, the user's fingertipwill be falsely detected, and makes it less likely that erroneousoperation resulting from the false detection will occur, a controlmethod for the image pickup apparatus, and a computer-readable storagemedium storing a program for causing a computer to implement the method.

Accordingly, a first aspect of the present invention provides an imagepickup apparatus comprising a finder having an eyepiece, an approachdetection unit configured to detect an object approaching the eyepiece,a touch-panel type display unit, a control unit configured to, when theapproach detection unit detects the object approaching, provide controlto reduce a light emission luminance of the display unit or turn offdisplay on the display unit, a display control unit configured to, in astate in which the approach detection unit has not detected the objectapproaching, provide control so that a first-type display objects thatexecute assigned functions in response to touch operations are displayedfarther from the approach detection unit on a display surface of thedisplay unit than a second-type display objects that do not executeassigned functions even when touched, and an execution unit configuredto, when a touch on any of the first-type display objects is detected,execute a function assigned to the first-type display object.

Accordingly, a second aspect of the present invention provides a controlmethod for an image pickup apparatus which comprises a finder having aneyepiece, an approach detection unit configured to detect an objectapproaching the eyepiece, and a touch-panel type display unit,comprising a control step of, when the approach detection unit detectsthe object approaching, providing control to reduce a light emissionluminance of the display unit or turn off display on the display unit, adisplay control step of, in a state in which the approach detection unithas not detected the object approaching, providing control so thatdisplay objects of a first type that execute assigned functions inresponse to touch operations are displayed farther from the approachdetection unit on a display surface of the display unit than displayobjects of a second type that do not execute assigned functions evenwhen touched, and an execution step of, when a touch on any of thefirst-type display objects is detected, executing a function assigned tothe first-type display object.

Accordingly, a third aspect of the present invention provides acomputer-readable non-transitory storage medium storing a program forcausing an image pickup apparatus to execute a control method for theimage pickup apparatus as described above.

According to the present invention, the likelihood that when a useroperates a display screen with a fingertip while not looking through aviewfinder, the approach detection unit will falsely detect the user'sfingertip can be reduced. This makes it less likely that erroneousoperation resulting from the false detection by the approach detectingunit will occur.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments (with reference to theattached drawings).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view showing an appearance of a back side of a camera whichis a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a hardware arrangementof the camera.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are flowcharts of operating procedures of the camera.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing data displayed on a TFT.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an appearance of a back side of a camera whichis a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view showing an appearance of a back side of a camera whichis a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view showing an appearance of a back side of a conventionaldigital single-lens reflex camera.

FIGS. 8A to 8D are diagrams showing positions of a vari-angle displayunit mounted on a camera which is a fourth embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 9A to 9C are diagrams showing exemplary screen displays on the TFTwhen the vari-angle display unit is in the positions shown in FIGS. 8Ato 8C.

FIGS. 10A to 10D are flowcharts of operating procedures in a manualshooting mode according to the fourth embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference tothe drawings showing embodiments thereof.

FIG. 1 is a view showing an appearance of a back side of a digitalsingle-lens reflex camera (hereafter abbreviated as the camera) 11 whichis a first embodiment of the present invention. On a back side of thecamera 11, there is provided a TFT liquid crystal display unit(hereafter referred to merely as the TFT) 12 which is an informationdisplay unit that displays taken images and settings, operating state,and so on of the camera 11.

A transparent transmissive touch panel (hereafter abbreviated as thetouch panel) 13 is mounted on a surface of the TFT 12. The touch panel13 detects not only whether or not a user's fingertip has touched theTFT 12, but also which area of the TFT 12 has been touched by thefingertip (touch position). Thus, which display area of the TFT 12 hasbeen touched by the user can be determined by comparing contentsdisplayed on the TFT 12 and a touch position with each other.

The camera 11 is also equipped with a number of operation switches suchas a power switch lever 17, a mode dial 16, a menu button 15, and ashutter button 61 (see FIG. 2). The shutter button 61 instructsshooting. The mode dial (mode selector switch) 16 switches betweenmodes. The menu button 15 receives operations by the user and configuressettings of various functions of the camera 11. A set (SET) button 19 a,a four-way button 19 b, a replay button 19 c, a controller wheel 73, andso on as well as the menu button 15 constitute an operation unit 70, tobe described later. The power switch lever 17 selectively turns on andoff power supply.

The camera 11 shoots a subject viewed through a viewfinder 18, and aneye proximity sensor 14 is provided below the viewfinder 18. The eyeproximity sensor 14 detects the presence or absence of an object withina predetermined distance from a front surface of the eye proximitysensor 14. In the present embodiment, an ordinary infrared sensor thatdetects an infrared ray emitted from an object is used as the eyeproximity sensor 14. This infrared sensor detects the user bringinghis/her face close so as to look through the viewfinder 18. It should benoted that not only the infrared sensor but also an optical sensorhaving a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit, an ultrasonicsensor, or the like may be used as the eye proximity sensor 14.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a hardware arrangementof the camera 11. The camera 11 has a taking lens 103 including a focuslens, a shutter 101 having a diaphragm function, and an image pickupunit 22 comprised of a CCD, a CMOS device, or the like which converts anoptical image into an electric signal.

Also, the camera 11 has an A/D converter 23, which converts an analogsignal output from the image pickup unit 22 into a digital signal, and abarrier 102. The barrier 102 covers the taking lens 103 and others ofthe camera 11 to prevent an image pickup system including the takinglens 103, the shutter 101, and the image pickup unit 22 from becomingsoiled and damaged.

An image processing unit 24 carries out a resizing process such aspredetermined pixel interpolation and reduction, a color conversionprocess, on data from the A/D converter 23 and data from a memorycontrol unit 25. The image processing unit 24 carries out apredetermined computation process using image data obtained by shooting,and a system control unit 50 carries out exposure control and photometrycontrol based on the computation results. As a result, a TTL(through-the-lens)-type AF (auto focus) process, an AE (auto exposure)process, and an EF (flash pre-emission) process are carried out.Further, the image processing unit 24 carries out a predeterminedcomputation process using image data obtained by shooting, and thesystem control unit 50 carries out a TTL-type AWB (auto white balance)process as well based on the computation results.

Output data from the A/D converter 23 is directly written into a memory32 via the image processing unit 24 and the memory control unit 25, orvia the memory control unit 25. The memory 32 stores image data, whichis obtained by the image pickup unit 22 and converted into digital databy the A/D converter 23, and image data to be displayed on the TFT(display unit) 12. The memory 32 has a storage capacity enough to storea predetermined number of still images and moving images and sound for apredetermined time.

The memory 32 also serves as a memory for image display (video memory).A D/A converter 26 converts data for image display stored in the memory32 into analog signals, and supplies them to the TFT 12. Thus, imagedata to be displayed, which is written into the memory 32, is displayedby the TFT 12 through the D/A converter 26.

The TFT 12 produces displays according to analog signals from the D/Aconverter 26 as described above. Thus, digital data, which is obtainedby the A/D converter 23 converting analog data into digital data once,and accumulated in the memory 32, is converted into analog data by theD/A converter 26 and successively transferred to and displayed on theTFT 12, so that the TFT 12 acts as an electronic viewfinder (throughimage display).

A nonvolatile memory 56 is an electronically erasable and recordablememory. An EEPROM, for example, is used as the nonvolatile memory 56.Also, the nonvolatile memory 56 stores constants and programs, foroperation of the system control unit 50. Here, the programs meanprograms presented in flowcharts, to be described later, in the presentembodiment.

The system control unit 50 controls the entire camera 11. The systemcontrol unit 50 executes the programs recorded in the nonvolatile memory56. A RAM is used as a system memory 52, in which constants andvariables for operation of the system control unit 50, and programs andothers read out from the nonvolatile memory 56 are expanded.

Also, by controlling the memory 32, the D/A converter 26, the TFT 12,and so on, the system control unit 50 acts as a display control unitthat controls display on the TFT 12.

A system timer 53 measures time periods required for various kinds ofcontrol, and time periods indicated by built-in clocks. The modeselector switch 16, the shutter button 61, and the operation unit 70input various operational instructions to the system control unit 50.

The mode selector switch 16 selectively places the system control unit50 into a still image recording mode, a moving image recording mode, areproduction mode, and so on.

A first shutter switch 62 is turned on when the shutter button 61provided with the camera 11 is pressed part way, that is, in response tothe shutter button 61 being pressed halfway down (a shooting preparationinstruction), and generates a first shutter switch signal SW1. Inresponse to the first shutter switch signal SW1, the system control unit50 starts an operation such as an AF (auto focus) process, an AE (autoexposure) process, an AWB (auto white balance) process, or an EF (flashpre-emission) process.

A second shutter switch 64 is turned on when operation of the shutterbutton 61 is completed, that is, in response to the shutter button 61being pressed all the way down (a shooting instruction), and generates asecond shutter switch signal SW2. In response to the second shutterswitch signal SW2, the system control unit 50 starts a sequence ofshooting processes leading from reading of a signal from the imagepickup unit 22 to writing of image data into a recording medium 200.

The operation unit 70 is comprised of the menu button 15, the SET button19 a, the four-way button 19 b, the replay button 19 c, the controllerwheel 73, and so on. Moreover, in the present embodiment, the touchpanel 13 capable of detecting a touch on a display screen of the TFT 12is provided separately from the operation unit 70. Various functionicons displayed on the TFT 12 are selected and operated to assignfunctions to respective scenes, and thus touch panel 13 acts as variousfunction buttons.

Examples of the function buttons include an end button, a back button,an image-by-image advance button, a jump button, a refine button, and anattribute change button. For example, when the menu button 15 ispressed, a menu screen on which various settings can be configured isdisplayed on the TFT 12. The user can intuitively configure varioussettings using the menu screen displayed on the TFT 12, the four-waybutton 19 b, and the SET button 19 a.

The controller wheel 73 is an operation member that is included in theoperation unit 70 and can be rotationally operated, and is used togetherwith the four-way button 19 b to designate selection items. When thecontroller wheel 73 is rotationally operated, an electric pulse signalis generated according to the amount of operation. Based on the pulsesignal, the system control unit 50 controls each part of the camera 11.Based on the pulse signal, an angle at which the controller wheel 73 hasbeen rotationally operated, the number of rotations by the controllerwheel 73, or the like can be determined. It should be noted that thecontroller wheel 73 may be anything which is an operation member capableof detecting a rotational operation. For example, the controller wheel73 may be a dial operation member that rotates by itself and generates apulse signal in response to a rotational operation by the user.Alternatively, the controller wheel 73 may be an operation membercomprised of a touch sensor, and capable of detecting a finger rotatingaction made by the user on a controller wheel although the controllerwheel does not rotate (a so-called touch wheel).

A power supply control unit 80 is comprised of a battery detectioncircuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit that switches betweenblocks to be energized, and so on, and detects the presence or absenceof a battery mounted, a battery type, and a remaining battery level.Also, based on the detection results and instructions from the systemcontrol unit 50, the power supply control unit 80 controls the DC-DCconverter, and supplies required voltages to components including therecording medium 200 for a required period of time.

A power supply unit 30 is comprised of a primary battery such as analkali battery or a lithium battery, a secondary battery such as an NiCdbattery, an NiMH battery, an Li battery, an AC adapter, or the like. Aninterface 27 is an interface for connecting with the recording medium200 such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium 200 iscomprised of a recording medium such as a memory card, a semiconductormemory, a magnetic disk, or the like.

A detailed description will now be given of the touch panel 13 providedseparately from the operation unit 70. As described above, the touchpanel 13 capable of detecting a touch on the display surface of the TFT12 is provided on the display screen of the TFT 12. The touch panel 13and the TFT 12 are configured integrally. For example, the touch panel13 is attached to an upper layer of the display screen of the TFT 12,and the light transmittance of the touch panel 13 is set so as not tointerfere with display on the TFT 12. Input coordinates on the touchpanel 13 and display coordinates on the TFT 12 are associated with eachother. This can provide a GUI that looks as if the user could directlymanipulate a screen displayed on the TFT 12.

The system control unit 50 detects the following acts: an act oftouching the touch panel 13 with a finger or a pen (hereafter referredto as “touch-down”), an act in a state in which a finger or a pentouches the touch panel 13 (hereafter referred to as “touch-on”), an actof moving a finger or a pen in a state in which the finger or the pentouches the touch panel 13 (hereafter referred to as “move”), an act ofmoving a finger or a pen off the touch panel 13 (hereafter referred toas “touch-up”), and an act in a state in which a finger or a pen doesnot touch the touch panel 13 (hereafter referred to as “touch-off”).

These acts and coordinates of positions on the touch panel 13 touched bya finger or a pen are posted to the system control unit 50. Based on theposted information, the system control unit 50 determines what kind ofmanipulation has been performed on the touch panel 13.

Regarding move, a direction in which a finger or a pen is moved on thetouch panel 13 can be determined with respect to each verticalcomponent/horizontal component on the touch panel 13 based on a changein positional coordinates.

Moreover, when on the touch panel 13, touch-up is performed via apredetermined move after touch-down, it can be determined that a strokeis drawn. An act of quickly drawing a stroke is referred to as flicking.The flicking is an act of quickly moving a finger a certain distance onthe touch panel 13 and then moving the finger off the touch panel 13, inother words, an act of quickly moving the finger over the touch panel 13as if flicking the touch panel 13.

When it is detected that move is performed for a predetermined distanceor longer and at a predetermined speed or higher, and then touch-up isdetected as-is, it can be determined that flicking is performed. When itis detected that move is performed for a predetermined distance orlonger and at a predetermined speed or lower, it can be determined thatdragging is performed.

As the touch panel 13, an arbitrary one of various types such as aresistive type, a capacitance type, a surface acoustic wave type, aninfrared type, an electromagnetic induction type, an image recognitiontype, and an optical sensor type can be used.

Next, a description will be given of how the camera 11 arranged asdescribed above operates. FIGS. 3A and 3B are flowcharts of operatingprocedures of the camera 11. These flowcharts are implemented by a CPUin the system control unit 50 executing a method in accordance with aprogram which is stored in the nonvolatile memory 56 and loaded into thesystem memory 52.

When the power switch lever 17 of the camera 11 is operated, the systemcontrol unit 50 detects this operation, and supplies power to thecomponents via the power supply control unit 80, thus causing the camera11 to start operating. First, the system control unit 50 detects ashooting mode as a mode of the camera 11. The shooting mode is detectedby detecting a position of the mode dial 16 (steps S1 to S5).

Namely, the system control unit 50 detects a position of the mode dial16 to determine whether or not the camera 11 is in a manual mode (stepS1). When the camera 11 is in the manual mode, the system control unit50 proceeds to step S6. On the other hand, when the camera 11 is not inthe manual mode, the system control unit 50 determines whether or notthe camera 11 is in an aperture priority mode (step S2).

The aperture priority mode means a mode in which an operation to adjustaperture value is received from the user, and shutter speed isautomatically determined using a program diagram based on an aperturevalue, ISO sensitivity, subject brightness, and so on set according tooperation by the user. When the camera 11 is in the aperture prioritymode, the system control unit 50 proceeds to the step S6. On the otherhand, when the camera 11 is not in the aperture priority mode, thesystem control unit 50 determines whether or not the camera 11 is in ashutter speed priority mode (step S3).

The shutter speed priority mode means a mode in which an operation toadjust shutter speed is received from the user, and aperture value isautomatically determined using a program diagram based on a shutterspeed, ISO sensitivity, subject brightness, and so on set according toby the user. When the camera 11 is in the shutter speed priority mode,the system control unit 50 proceeds to the step S6. On the other hand,when the camera 11 is not in the shutter speed priority mode, the systemcontrol unit 50 determines whether or not the camera 11 is in a programmode (step S4).

When the camera 11 is in the program mode, the system control unit 50proceeds to the step S6. On the other hand, when the camera 11 is not inthe program mode, the system control unit 50 determines that the camera11 is in an auto mode (step S5), and proceeds to the step S6.

Then, the system control unit 50 turns on (enables) and operates the eyeproximity sensor 14 with consideration given to the user looking throughthe viewfinder 18 for the purpose of shooting (step S6). It should benoted that the process in the step S6 is realized as a function of anapproach detection switching unit. Further, the system control unit 50displays data having contents determined in advance (Data1) on the TFT12 according to the previously detected position of the mode dial 16,and operates the touch panel 13 (step S7). It should be noted that theprocess in the step S7 is realized as a function of an input detectionswitching unit.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing data displayed on the TFT 12. Data1and Data2 are stored in the nonvolatile memory 56. Data for the manualmode, aperture priority mode, shutter speed priority mode, program mode,or auto mode is prepared as the data Data1 on the TFT 12 in the step S7.

The system control unit 50 determines whether or not an object has beendetected by the eye proximity sensor 14 (step S8). As described above,when an infrared sensor is used as the eye proximity sensor 14, and theuser has looks through the viewfinder 18 for the purpose of shooting,the eye proximity sensor 14 detects an approach of the user's face oreye. In response to the detection by the eye proximity sensor 14, thesystem control unit 50 turns off the TFT 12, and stops the touch panel13 (step S9). It should be noted that the process in the step S9 isrealized as a function of the input detection switching unit. In thestep S9, only luminance may be lowered without turning off the TFT 12.

The system control unit 50 determines whether or not shooting isperformed by the user depressing the shutter button 61 (step S10). Whenshooting is performed, the system control unit 50 causes the camera 11to take a shooting action (step S11). Thereafter, the system controlunit 50 terminates the present process.

On the other hand, when shooting is not performed in the step S10, thesystem control unit 50 determines whether or not an object is detectedby the eye proximity sensor 14 so as to check whether or not the userhas stopped shooting and moves his/her face off the viewfinder 18 (stepS12). When an object is detected by the eye proximity sensor 14, thesystem control unit 50 proceeds to the step S9. On the other hand, whenan object is not detected by the eye proximity sensor 14, the systemcontrol unit 50 returns to the step S7, in which it produces a displayon the TFT 12 and operates the touch panel 13 again.

On the other hand, when in the step S8, the user changes shootingconditions such as shutter speed or operates the menu button 15 or thereplay button 19 c without looking through the viewfinder 18, the systemcontrol unit 50 carries out processes in step S13 and the subsequentsteps. Specifically, when an object is not detected in the step S8, thesystem control unit 50 determines whether or not shooting conditions arechanged (step S13).

When the shooting conditions are changed, the system control unit 50proceeds to the step S16. On the other hand, when the shootingconditions are not changed, the system control unit 50 determineswhether or not the menu button 15 is depressed (step S14).

When the menu button 15 is depressed, the system control unit 50proceeds to the step S16. On the other hand, when the menu button 15 isnot depressed, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not thereplay button 19 c is depressed (step S15).

When the replay button 19 c is depressed, the system control unit 50proceeds to the step S16. On the other hand, when the replay button 19 cis not depressed, the system control unit 50 returns to the step S1.

When the user changes shooting conditions such as shutter speed oroperates the menu button 15 or the replay button 19 c, the systemcontrol unit 50 turns off (disables) and stops the operation of the eyeproximity sensor 14 (step S16). It should be noted that the process inthe step S16 is realized as a function of the approach detectionswitching unit. This is because when the menu button 15 or the replaybutton 19 c is operated, it can be determined that the user is going toperform an operation other than shooting.

Further, the system control unit 50 displays data with contentsdetermined in advance (Data2) in response to operations by the user withdata being displayed on the TFT 12 and the touch panel 13 being inoperation (step S17). As shown in FIG. 4B, data for changing of shootingconditions, menu, and reproduction is displayed as data relating tooperations.

Then, the system control unit 50 waits until the user completes variousoperations (step S18). When various operations by the user arecompleted, the system returns to the step S1.

A description will now be given of display on the TFT 12. Displayobjects representing various information of which settings can bechanged by the user (hereafter referred to as the first-type displayobjects) are displayed in a display range a below a boundary line c. Onthe other hand, display objects representing various information ofwhich settings cannot be changed by the user (hereafter referred to asthe second-type display objects) are displayed in a display range babove the boundary line c.

The first-type display objects are display objects which enablefunctions assigned thereto to be executed by touching an area where thefirst-type display objects are displayed. Namely, the first-type displayobjects are display objects on which touch operations can be performed(touch objects). For example, a first-type display object “Tv”representing the shutter speed priority mode displayed on the TFT 12 inFIG. 1 is information that can be changed by the user operating the modedial 16. The user can also switch to another shooting mode by touching adisplay area a1 on the touch panel 13 where the display object “Tv” isdisplayed and then touching the touch panel 13 according to a displayguidance, not shown. Also, a first-type display object “1/125”indicating a shutter speed is information that can be changed byoperating a setting change dial, not shown.

The user can switch to another shutter speed by touching a display areaa2 on the touch panel 13 where the display object “1/125” is displayedand then touching the touch panel 13 according to a display guidance,not shown. The same applies to other display objects.

The second-type display objects represent information which does notcause operations of the camera 11 to be input even when areas where thesecond-type display objects are displayed are touched. Namely, thesecond-type display objects are display objects on which touchoperations cannot be performed. The display range b is a touch disabledrange. For example, an aperture value “F8.0” as a second-type displayobject displayed on the TFT 12 in FIG. 1 is a number that isautomatically determined by a shutter speed, ISO sensitivity (ISO 400 inFIG. 1) set by the user, and subject brightness when the camera 11 is inthe shutter speed priority mode. Thus, this cannot be changed by theuser. Also, a remaining battery level displayed at an upper left cornerof the TFT 12 is determined by a remaining battery level of a mountedbattery, and thus this cannot be changed by the user. As other exemplarydisplays, shutter speed in the aperture priority mode, and shutter speedand aperture value in the program mode cannot be changed by the user.

Thus, display objects indicating shutter speed in the aperture prioritymode, and shutter speed and aperture value in the program mode aredisplayed in the display range b as the second-type display objects onwhich touch operations cannot be performed. Also, the number of picturesthat can be taken, burst frame count, radio field intensity, LANconnection, USB connection, HDMI connection, AV-OUT connection, andMIC/SP connection, and so on cannot be changed by the user, and hencethey are displayed in the display range b as the second-type displayobjects on which touch operations cannot be performed.

It should be noted that in the present embodiment, the display range bwhere the second-type display objects are displayed is located above theboundary line c, and the display range a where the first-type displayobjects are displayed is located below the boundary line c. However,whether they are displayed above or below the boundary line c can bearbitrarily determined according to the number of first-type andsecond-type display objects or the like. Also, the boundary line may notalways be horizontal, but may be oblique or curved.

The camera 11 displays, on the screen of the TFT 12, the second-typedisplay objects closer to the eye proximity sensor 14 than thefirst-type display objects based on the data (Data1) in FIG. 4A at leastwhen the eye proximity sensor 14 is in an enabled condition. Asdescribed earlier, the second-type display objects are indicatingunchangeable information that does not enable operations of the camera11 to be input even when the display range b where the second-typedisplay objects are displayed is touched. On the other hand, thefirst-type display objects are indicating changeable information thatenables operations of the camera 11 to be input by touching the displayrange a where the first-type display objects are displayed is touched.

Because the first-type display objects which the user is going to touchare displayed at positions away from the eye proximity sensor 14 asdescribed above, the likelihood of the eye proximity sensor 14 falselydetecting a fingertip of the user can be reduced. Namely, the displayarea b1 where an aperture value and others in the shutter speed prioritymode are displayed can be a safe area where the eye proximity sensor 14is not likely to falsely detect a fingertip of the user. Thus, thelikelihood of the camera 11 failing to work property can also bereduced.

Conversely, this is not limitative when the eye proximity sensor 14 isin a disabled condition, that is, in the processes in FIG. 16 to FIG.18. In other words, no particular problem will arise if the camera 11displays even the first-type display objects close to the eye proximitysensor 14 based on the data (Data2) in FIG. 4B.

As described above, according to the image pickup apparatus of the firstembodiment, the second-type display objects are displayed in the displayrange on the TFT closer to the eye proximity sensor than the first-typedisplay objects. Thus, when the user operates the touch panel with afingertip while not looking through the viewfinder, the likelihood thatthe eye proximity sensor will falsely detect the user's fingertip as theface can be reduced, and a malfunction of the camera resulting fromfalse detection by the eye proximity sensor is less likely to occur.

Moreover, when an object is detected by the eye proximity sensor, thetouch panel is switched into a disabled condition, and hence, forexample, when the user's nose or the like touches the screen of the TFTwhile the user looks through the viewfinder, this is not falselydetected as an operation. Because the eye proximity sensor can beselectively enabled or disabled, the operability of the camera can beenhanced. Moreover, when the user looks through the viewfinder in theshooting mode, the eye proximity sensor detects this, and the screen ofthe TFT is turned off. This can prevent the user from feeling glare fromthe screen of the TFT at the time of shooting. Further, because the eyeproximity sensor is switched into a disabled condition when the camerais not in the shooting mode, the display mode of the screen of the TFTis not changed, making it easier to operate the camera.

Moreover, the area where shutter speed value in the aperture prioritymode is displayed can be a safe area where the eye proximity sensor isless likely to falsely detect the user's fingertip. The same applies tothe areas where aperture value in the shutter speed priority mode, andshutter speed value and aperture value in the program mode aredisplayed.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an appearance of a back side of the camera 11which is a second embodiment of the present invention. The arrangementand operation of the camera 11 are substantially the same as in thefirst embodiment described above. The components same as those of thefirst embodiment are designated by the same reference symbols, detaileddescription of which, therefore, is omitted. Only those differing fromthe first embodiment will be described below.

In the camera 11 according to the second embodiment, the second-typedisplay objects are displayed in a negative-positive reversed manneragainst the first-type display objects. This makes the differencebetween the first-type display objects and the second-type displayobjects visibly clear.

When operating the touch panel of the TFT 12, the user can visuallyrecognizes at a glance that a second-type display object which he/she isgoing to touch does not lie close to the eye proximity sensor 14. As aresult, the likelihood of the user putting a fingertip close to the eyeproximity sensor 14 can be further reduced, and the same effects as inthe first embodiment can be more reliably obtained.

FIG. 6 is a view showing an appearance of a back side of the camera 11which is a third embodiment of the present invention. The arrangementand operation of the camera 11 are substantially the same as in thefirst embodiment described above. The components same as those of thefirst embodiment are designated by the same reference symbols, detaileddescription of which, therefore, is omitted. Only those differing fromthe first embodiment will be described below.

In the camera 11 according to the third embodiment, a display 66indicating that the second-type display objects cannot be changed by theuser is displayed close to the second-type display object. Thus, whenoperating the touch panel of the TFT 12, the user visually can recognizeat a glance that a display range which he/she is going to touch is notclose to the eye proximity sensor 14. As a result, the likelihood thatthe user will put the fingertip close to the eye proximity sensor 14 canbe further reduced, and the same effects as in the first embodiment canbe more reliably obtained.

Next, a description will be given of a camera as an image pickupapparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

A camera 40 according to the fourth embodiment is arranged such that theTFT 12 is disposed on a vari-angle display unit (a second housing)rotatably mounted on a main body (a first housing) of the camera 11shown in FIG. 1 such as to be able to open and close, and touchoperations on display objects can be accepted regardless of whether theyare in the display range a or b only when the vari-angle display unitoccupies a certain position.

A hardware arrangement (not shown) of the camera 40 according to thefourth embodiment adds, to the hardware arrangement shown in the blockdiagram of FIG. 2, a position detection unit that is capable ofcommunicating with the system control unit 50 and detects a position ofthe vari-angle display unit, and a dial 803 included in the operationunit 70.

FIGS. 8A to 8D are diagrams useful in explaining positions to which thevari-angle display unit 801 mounted on the camera 40 can move, andpositions of the vari-angle display unit 801 mounted on the camera 40can take. It should be noted that in FIGS. 8A to 8D, the components sameas those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference symbols.

Referring to FIG. 8A, the vari-angle display unit 801 is rotatablyconnected to the camera 40 via a hinge unit 802 such as to be able toopen and close. On the vari-angle display unit 801, the TFT 12 and thetouch panel 13 are disposed.

A word “UP” written in the figures is a symbol of convenience forindicating orientations of the vari-angle display unit 801. The dial 803is a rotary operation member, which can be operated through clockwiseand counterclockwise rotations. Various setting values can be adjustedby increasing and decreasing according to the direction in which thedial 803 is rotated and the amount by which the dial 803 is rotated.

Positions of the vari-angle display unit 801 can be detected based on,for example, a hall element that is mounted inside the hinge unit 802 toserve as a position detection member of the vari-angle display unit 801,a switch that is turned on at a specific angle, or the like.

The system control unit 50 can detect at least positions A to Ddescribed below as positions of the vari-angle display unit 801.

Position A: Position Shown in FIG. 8A

A position in which the vari-angle display unit 801 is closed (folded)on a main body of the camera 40 so that the display surface of the TFT12 can face in the same direction as a surface on which the eyeproximity sensor 14 is mounted (a back side of the camera 40). Thedisplay surface of the TFT 12 is viewable from behind the camera 40.From this position A, the vari-angle display unit 801 can be rotatedabout an axis 804 (an axis vertical to the direction of an optical axisand parallel to a vertical direction of the camera 40 (this rotationwill hereafter be referred to as “opened and closed”).

Position B: Position Shown in FIG. 8 B

A position in which the vari-angle display unit 801 is opened againstthe main body of the camera 40 so that the display surface of the TFT 12can face in a direction opposite to the surface on which the eyeproximity sensor 14 is mounted (the back side of the camera 40). Thedisplay surface of the TFT 12 faces in the same direction as a frontsurface of the camera 40, and the display surface of the TFT 12 isviewable from a subject standing in front of the camera 40. Namely, theposition B is a position of the vari-angle display unit 801 opened afterhaving been rotated about the axis 804 from the position A. From thisposition B, the vari-angle display unit 801 can be opened and closedabout the axis 804. Also, the vari-angle display unit 801 can be openedand closed about an axis 805 (an axis vertical to the axis 804).

Position C: Position Shown in FIG. 8C

A position in which the vari-angle display unit 801 is opened againstthe main body of the camera 40 so that the display surface of the TFT 12can face in the same direction as the surface on which the eye proximitysensor 14 is mounted (the back side of the camera 40). The displaysurface of the TFT 12 is viewable from behind the camera 40. Theposition C is a position of the vari-angle display unit 801 having beenrotated about the axis 805 from the position B, and in the position C,upper and lower portions of the vari-angle display unit 801 are reversedfrom upper and lower portions of the vari-angle display unit 801 in thepositions A and B. From the position C, the vari-angle display unit 801can be opened and closed about the axis 804. Also, the vari-angledisplay unit 801 can be opened and closed about the axis 805.

Position D: Position Shown in FIG. 8D

A position in which the vari-angle display unit 801 is closed on themain body of the camera 40 so that the display surface of the TFT 12 canface the eye proximity sensor 14 (the back side of the camera 40). Thedisplay surface of the TFT 12 is not viewable from any direction. Theposition D is a position of the vari-angle display unit 801 closed afterhaving been rotated about the axis 804 from the position C. From thisposition D, the vari-angle display unit 801 can be opened and closedabout the axis 804.

FIGS. 9A to 9C show exemplary screen displays on the TFT 12 when thevari-angle display unit 801 is in the positions described above withreference to FIGS. 8A to 8C. Here, a description will be given ofexemplary screen displays in a manual shooting mode (a mode in which theuser can adjust both shutter speed and aperture value).

FIG. 9A shows an exemplary screen display on the TFT 12 when thevari-angle display unit 801 is in the position A. When the vari-angledisplay unit 801 is in the position A, display objects displayed in thedisplay range b which is an upper part of the TFT 12 (the range close tothe eye proximity sensor 14) are configured so as not to betouch-operated. For example, a display object displayed in the displayrange b and indicating an aperture value (f number) (a display “F8.0” inFIG. 9A) indicates a shooting condition presently set for the camera 40,but nothing occurs when this display object is touched. In the displayrange b, a guidance indicating that display objects in this range cannotbe touch-operated is displayed. On the other hand, the first-typedisplay objects that can be touch-operated are arranged and displayed inthe display range a (the range farther away from the eye proximitysensor 14 than the display range b). For example, by touching a displayobject indicating a shutter speed (Tv value) displayed in the displayrange a (a display “1/125” in FIG. 9A), a display for changing theshutter speed is produced, and further, by touch-operating this displayobject, the shutter speed can be changed.

Thus, as in the first to third embodiments described above, the reasonwhy the availability of operation of display objects is changedaccording to display range is that in the position A, the display rangeb is close to the eye proximity sensor 14, and hence by not placingdisplay members that can be touch-operated in this range, the likelihoodthat the user will put his/her finger in the vicinity of this range canbe reduced. As a result, the likelihood that the TFT 12 willunexpectedly turn off, or operation of the touch panel 13 will becomeimpossible due to the eye proximity sensor 14 falsely detecting anapproach of the user's finger as an approach of the eye can be reduced.

It should be noted that shooting conditions indicated by the second-typedisplay objects displayed in the display range b where touch operationsare not accepted are not changeable by touch operations, but they areconfigured to be changeable through operation of other operation membersdisposed at locations other than the touch panel 13. For example, in thepresent embodiment, an aperture value indicated by a second-type displayobject “F8.0”, which is displayed in the display range b and cannot betouch-operated in the position A, is changeable through operation of thedial 803.

FIG. 9B shows an exemplary screen display on the TFT 12 when thevari-angle display unit 801 is in the position B. In the position B, thedisplay surface of the TFT 12 and the touch panel 13 face in a directionopposite to and away from the eye proximity sensor 14. Thus, thepossibility of the eye proximity sensor 14 falsely detecting an approachof the hand trying to touch the touch panel 13 as an approach of the eyecan be eliminated. Thus, all of display objects indicating shootingconditions displayed on the TFT 12 are configure to accept touchoperations irrespective of the range where they are displayed. Namely,touch operations on display objects displayed in the display range b,which cannot be touch-operated in the position A, are also accepted. Forexample, by touching an area where a display object “F8.0” indicating anaperture value displayed in the display range b, a display for changingthe aperture value is produced, and further by performing touchoperations, the aperture value can be changed.

In the position B, because display objects displayed in the displayrange b can be touch-operated as described above, they have not bediscriminated from display objects displayed in the display range a, anda frame border indicating the display range b and a guidance as shown inFIG. 9A are not displayed.

FIG. 9C shows an exemplary screen display on the TFT 12 when thevari-angle display unit 801 is in the position C. In the position C, thedisplay surface of the TFT 12 and the touch panel 13 are away from theeye proximity sensor 14, and thus, the possibility of the eye proximitysensor 14 falsely detecting an approach of the hand trying to touch thetouch panel 13 as an approach of the eye can be eliminated. Thus, as inthe position B, all of display objects indicating shooting conditionsdisplayed on the TFT 12 are configure to accept touch operations.Namely, touch operations on display objects displayed in the displayrange b, which cannot be touch-operated in the position A, are alsoaccepted. It should be noted that because in the position B and theposition C, the upper and lower parts of the vari-angle display unit 801are reversed, contents displayed in the upper and lower parts are alsoreversed. Namely, the positions of the display range a and the displayrange b described with reference to FIG. 9B are vertically inverted asshown in FIG. 9C.

In the position D, the display surface of the TFT 12 is not viewable,and touch operations cannot be performed on the touch panel 13. Thus,display on (light emission of) the TFT 12 and detection of touches onthe TFT 12 are turned off to save power.

FIGS. 10A to 10D are flowcharts of a manual shooting mode process in thecamera 40 according to the fourth embodiment described above. Theseflowcharts are implemented by a CPU in the system control unit 50executing a method in accordance with a program which is stored in thenonvolatile memory 56 and loaded into the system memory 52.

In the camera 40, when the mode is switched into the manual shootingmode through operation of the mode dial 16 or the like, the systemcontrol unit 50 starts the process in FIGS. 10A to 10D. It should benoted that in the flowcharts described below, whenever a shootingoperation is performed, this is accepted, and shooting is performed asan interrupt process.

First, in step S1001, the system control unit 50 determines whether ornot the vari-angle display unit 801 is in the position A based on anoutput from the position detection unit. When determining that thevari-angle display unit 801 is in the position A, the system controlunit 50 proceeds to step S1002, and when determining that the vari-angledisplay unit 801 does not take the position A, the system control unit50 proceeds to step S1021.

In the step S1002, the system control unit 50 turns on (enables) andoperates the eye proximity sensor 14. The system control unit 50 alsoturns on display on the TFT 12 and backlight emission. The systemcontrol unit 50 also turns on detection of touches on the touch panel13, and operates the touch panel 13. It should be noted that detectionof touches on the touch panel 13 may be partially turned on so that onlytouches in the display range a can be detected. For example, when thetouch panel 13 is comprised of a plurality of sensors such as acapacitance sensor, a sensor for detecting touches in the display rangea may be turned on, and a sensor for detecting touches in the displayrange b may be turned off to save power.

In the next step S1003, the system control unit 50 causes the TFT 12 toproduce a screen display (display A) in the position A described abovewith reference to FIG. 9A.

In the next step SS1004, the system control unit 50 determines whetheror not an approach of the eye is detected by the eye proximity sensor14. In a strict sense, the system control unit 50 determines whether ornot any object is approaching the eye proximity sensor 14, not whetheror not the eye is approaching the eye proximity sensor 14. Whendetermining that any object is approaching the eye proximity sensor 14,the system control unit 50 proceeds to step S1005, and when determiningthat any object is not approaching the eye proximity sensor 14, thesystem control unit 50 proceeds to step S1008.

In the step S1005, the system control unit 50 turns off display on theTFT 12, backlight emission, and detection of touches on the touch panel13. The reason why display on the TFT 12 and backlight emission areturned off is to prevent them from obstructing the user's view bydazzling the user's eye when the user looks through the viewfinder 18.Alternatively, only backlight emission may be turned off or reduced(light emission luminance is reduced) without turning off display on theTFT 12. The reason why detection of touches on the touch panel 13 isturned off is to prevent an unintended operation from being performeddue to the nose touching the touch panel 13 when the user looks throughthe viewfinder 18. Here, it is assumed that detection of touches on thetouch panel 13 is entirely turned off (or touches themselves aretouched, but detection results thereof are ignored), detection oftouches may be partially turned off (touch operations are rejected) onlyin an area which the nose may touch.

In the next step S1006, the system control unit 50 determines whether ornot an approach of the eye is continuously detected by the eye proximitysensor 14. When determining that an approach of the eye is continuouslydetected, the system control unit 50 carries out the process in the stepS1006 again, and when determining that an approach of the eye is notdetected, the system control unit 50 proceeds to step S1007.

In the step S1007, the system control unit 50 turns on display on theTFT 12, backlight emission, and detection of touches on the touch panel13, and returns the TFT 12 the screen display (display A) produced inthe step S1003.

In the next step S1008, the system control unit 50 determines whether ornot the dial 803 is operated. When determining that the dial 803 isoperated, the system control unit 50 proceeds to step S1009, and whendetermining that the dial 803 is not operated, the system control unit50 proceeds to step S1010.

In the step S1009, the system control unit 50 changes aperture value byincreasing or decreasing the same according to the operation of the dial803.

In the next step S1010, the system control unit 50 determines whether ornot a touch operation is performed in the display range a. When a touchoperation is performed in the display range a, the system control unit50 proceeds to step S1011, and when a touch operation is not performedin the display range a, the system control unit 50 proceeds to stepS1012.

In the step S1011, the system control unit 50 changes various settingsincluding shooting conditions according to a touch operation. Forexample, the system control unit 50 changes shutter speed according to atouch operation on a display object indicating a shutter speed (Tvvalue) displayed in the display range a (a display “1/125” in FIG. 9A).

In the next step S1012, based on an output from the position detectionunit, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the positionof the vari-angle display unit 801 has changed. When determining thatthe position of the vari-angle display unit 801 has changed, the systemcontrol unit 50 proceeds to the step S1001, and when determining thatthe position of the vari-angle display unit 801 has not changed, thesystem control unit 50 proceeds to step S1013.

In the step S1013, the system control unit 50 determines whether or notto terminate the manual shooting mode process. The manual shooting modeprocess is terminated, for example, when the manual shooting mode isswitched to another shooting mode through operation of the mode dial 16or the like, when the power is turned off, or when the manual shootingmode is switched to the reproduction mode through depression of thereplay button 19 c. When determining to terminate the manual shootingmode process, the system control unit 50 terminates the manual shootingmode process, and when determining not to terminate the manual shootingmode process, the system control unit 50 returns to the step S1004 andcarries out the process again.

As described above, in the steps S1002 to S1013 in the case where thevari-angle display unit 801 is in the position A, touch operations inthe display range b are not accepted.

Next, in the step S1021, based on an output from the position detectionunit, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not thevari-angle display unit 801 is in the position B. When determining thatthe vari-angle display unit 801 is in the position B, the system controlunit 50 proceeds to step S1022, and when determining that the vari-angledisplay unit 801 does not take the position B, the system control unit50 proceeds to step S1041.

In the step S1022, the system control unit 50 turns on (enables) andoperates the eye proximity sensor 14. The system control unit 50 alsoturns on display on the TFT 12 and backlight emission. The systemcontrol unit 50 also turns on detection of touches on the touch panel13, and operates the touch panel 13. Here, detection of touches on thetouch panel 13 is turned on so that touch operations in the displayrange b can also be detected.

In the next step S1023, the system control unit 50 causes the TFT 12 toproduce a screen display (display B) in the position B described abovewith reference to FIG. 9B.

Processes in the subsequent steps S1024 to S1029 are the same as thesteps S1004 to S1009, and therefore, description thereof is omitted.

Next, in step S1030, the system control unit 50 determines whether ornot a touch operation is performed on a display object displayed on theTFT 12 irrespective of whether the display object is displayed in thedisplay range a or the display range b. When determining that a touchoperation is performed on the display object, the system control unit 50proceeds to step S1031, and when a touch operation is not performed onthe display object, the system control unit 50 proceeds to step S1032.

In the step S1031, the system control unit 50 changes various settingsincluding shooting conditions according to a touch operation. Forexample, the system control unit 50 changes shutter speed according to atouch operation on a display object indicating a shutter speed (Tvvalue) displayed in the display range a (a display “1/125” in FIG. 9A).The system control unit 50 may change aperture value according to atouch operation on an area where a display object “F8.0” indicating anaperture value displayed in the display range b.

A process in the subsequent step S1032 is the same as the abovedescribed steps S1012, and therefore, description thereof is omitted.

Next, in step S1033, the system control unit 50 determines whether ornot to terminate the manual shooting mode process. When determining toterminate the manual shooting mode process, the system control unit 50terminates the manual shooting mode process, and when determining not toterminate the manual shooting mode process, the system control unit 50returns to the step S1024 and carries out the process again.

As described above, in the steps S1022 to S1033 in the case where thevari-angle display unit 801 is in the position B, touch operations inthe display range b as well are accepted.

Next, in the step S1041, based on an output from the position detectionunit, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not thevari-angle display unit 801 is in the position C. When determining thatthe vari-angle display unit 801 is in the position C, the system controlunit 50 proceeds to step S1042, and when determining that the vari-angledisplay unit 801 does not take the position C, the system control unit50 proceeds to step S1062.

In the step S1042, the system control unit 50 turns on (enables) andoperates the eye proximity sensor 14. The system control unit 50 alsoturns on display on the TFT 12 and backlight emission. The systemcontrol unit 50 also turns on detection of touches on the touch panel13, and operates the touch panel 13. Here, detection of touches on thetouch panel 13 is turned on so that touch operations in the displayrange b can also be detected.

In the next step S1043, the system control unit 50 causes the TFT 12 toproduce a screen display (display C) in the position C described abovewith reference to FIG. 9 C.

Processes in the subsequent steps S1044 to S1049 are the same as thesteps S1004 to S1009, and therefore, description thereof is omitted.

Also, processes in the subsequent steps S1050 to S1052 are the same asthe steps S1030 to S1032, and therefore, description thereof is omitted.

Next, in step S1053, the system control unit 50 determines whether ornot to terminate the manual shooting mode process. When determining toterminate the manual shooting mode process, the system control unit 50terminates the manual shooting mode process, and when determining not toterminate the manual shooting mode process, the system control unit 50returns to the step S1044 and carries out the process again.

Then, in the step S1062, the system control unit 50 turns off (disables)the eye proximity sensor 14. The system control unit 50 also turns offdisplay on the TFT 12, backlight emission, and detection of touches onthe touch panel 13. Processes in the subsequent steps S1068, S1069, andS1072 are the same as the steps S1008, S1009, and S1012, and therefore,description thereof is omitted.

Next, in step S1073, the system control unit 50 determines whether ornot to terminate the manual shooting mode process. When determining toterminate the manual shooting mode process, the system control unit 50terminates the manual shooting mode process, and when determining not toterminate the manual shooting mode process, the system control unit 50returns to the step S1068 and carries out the process again.

It should be noted that in the position A, when the second-type displayobjects indicating a plurality of shooting conditions are displayed inthe display range b on which touch operations are not accepted, they maybe changed through operation on operating members which are placed atpositions other than the touch panel 13 and correspond to the respectivedisplay objects.

Moreover, a selection frame may be additionally displayed for any ofdisplay objects indicating a plurality of sheeting conditions displayedin the display range b on which touch operations are not accepted sothat shooting conditions indicated by the display object selected by theselection frame can be changed through operation of the dial 803. Theselection frame is moved by, for example, operating the four-way button19 b.

Moreover, for a predetermined time period after the position A ischanged to the position B or C, a display object that has not beentouch-operable in the position A and becomes touch-operable in theposition B or C may be highlighted, a guidance indicating that thedisplay object becomes touch-operable may be newly displayed after thechange in position. This enables the user to recognize thattouch-operation becomes possible. Examples of the way in which a displayobject is highlighted include displaying the concerned display objectitself or a background in a different color from other display objects,or displaying the concerned object in a blinking manner.

According to the camera 40 as the image pickup apparatus of the fourthembodiment described above, the touch-operable first-type displayobjects are not placed at positions close to the eye proximity sensor 14in the display range of the TFT 12 when the vari-angle display unit 801is in such a position that an approach of a finger performing a touchoperation is likely to be falsely detected as an approach of the eyeaccording to the position of the vari-angle display unit 801. This canreduce the likelihood that an approach of a finger performing a touchoperation will be falsely detected as an approach of the eye even whenthe vari-angle display unit 801 is in such a position that an approachof a finger performing a touch operation is likely to be falselydetected as an approach of the eye. Moreover, because the touch-operablefirst-type display objects can be placed at any positions in the displayrange of the TFT 12 as long as the vari-angle display unit 801 is insuch a position that an approach of a finger performing a touchoperation is not likely to be falsely detected as an approach of theeye, operability can be enhanced.

It should be noted that in the above described embodiments, because inthe reproduction mode, the eye proximity sensor 14 is turned off(disabled), the possibility of the eye proximity sensor 14 falselydetecting an approach of a finger performing a touch operation as anapproach of the eye and turning off the TFT 12 can be eliminated. Thus,in the reproduction mode, the touch-operable first-type display objectsare placed irrespective of whether they are displayed in the displayrange a or the display range b. On this occasion, the touch-operablefirst-type display objects displayed in the display range b arepreferably display objects to which functions unused in the shootingmode are assigned. This can reduce the likelihood that in the shootingmode, a finger will approach the eye proximity sensor 14 in an attemptto touch a display object displayed in the display range b from force ofhabit in the reproduction mode.

It should be noted that although in the above described embodiments, theeye proximity sensor 14 is disposed slightly to the right in the upperpart of the TFT 12 as shown in FIG. 1, the eye proximity sensor may bedisposed at another location as long as it can detect an approach of theuser's eye trying to looking through the viewfinder. In this case aswell, the first-type display objects that perform functions assignedthereto by being touched are farther away from the eye proximity sensoron the display surface of the TFT 12 (the touch panel 13) than thesecond-type display objects that do not perform functions assignedthereto even when touched.

Moreover, for example, the second-type display objects are made visuallydifferent from the first-type display objects in manners explainedhereafter. Specifically, the second-type display objects can bedisplayed at lower color saturation (light-colored) than the first-typedisplay objects. The second-type display objects can be displayed with adifferent lightness (lighter or darker) from the lightness of thefirst-type display objects. While the first-type display objects aredisplayed in chromatic color (in color), the second-type display objectscan be displayed in achromatic color (in black and white or gray). Thefirst-type display objects can be displayed to look as if they wereprotruded from its background, and the second-type display objects canbe displayed to look like protruding to a smaller degree than thefirst-type display objects, or not protruding at all, or the second-typedisplay objects can be displayed to look as if they were concave.

The above described display form enables the user to recognize that thefirst-type digital objects can be touch-operated, but the second-typedigital objects cannot be touch-operated. A display that indicatesprohibition of operation may be superposed on the second-type digitalobjects, or in the vicinity of and in parallel to the second-typedigital objects.

It should be noted that control of the system control unit 50 may beexercised by a piece of hardware or may be shared by a plurality ofhardware.

Moreover, although in the descriptions of the above describedembodiments, the present invention is applied to the digital single-lensreflex camera, the present invention is not limited to this, but thepresent invention may be applied to any image pickup apparatus that hasan eyepiece finder (either an optical finder or an EVF finder), and ameans for detecting an approach of the eye looking through theviewfinder. Namely, the present invention may be applied to a mirrorlessdigital single-lens reflex camera, a compact digital camera with aviewfinder, a digital video camera, a camera-equipped PDA, acamera-equipped cellular phone unit, a camera-equipped music player, acamera-equipped game machine, a camera-equipped electronic book reader,or the like.

Moreover, the information display unit is not limited to being the TFTliquid crystal display unit, but rather may instead be an organic ELdisplay, a surface-conduction electron-emitter display (SED), a plasmadisplay, or the like.

Other Embodiments

Aspects of the present invention can also be realized by a computer of asystem or apparatus (or devices such as a CPU or MPU) that reads out andexecutes a program recorded on a memory device to perform the functionsof the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method, the steps ofwhich are performed by a computer of a system or apparatus by, forexample, reading out and executing a program recorded on a memory deviceto perform the functions of the above-described embodiment(s). For thispurpose, the program is provided to the computer for example via anetwork or from a recording medium of various types serving as thememory device (e.g., computer-readable medium).

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2010-089409 filed Apr. 8, 2010 and No. 2011-080212 filed Mar. 31, 2011,which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

1. An image pickup apparatus comprising: a finder having an eyepiece; anapproach detection unit configured to detect an object approaching theeyepiece; a touch-panel type display unit; a control unit configured to,when said approach detection unit detects the object approaching,provide control to reduce a light emission luminance of said displayunit or turn off display on said display unit; a display control unitconfigured to, in a state in which said approach detection unit has notdetected the object approaching, provide control so that a first-typedisplay objects that execute assigned functions in response to touchoperations are displayed farther from said approach detection unit on adisplay surface of said display unit than a second-type display objectsthat do not execute assigned functions even when touched; and anexecution unit configured to, when a touch on any of the first-typedisplay objects is detected, execute a function assigned to thefirst-type display object.
 2. An image pickup apparatus according toclaim 1, further comprising an input control unit configured to, whenthe object is detected by said approach detection unit, provide controlto disable touch operations on said display unit.
 3. An image pickupapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an approach detectionswitching unit configured to selectively enable or disable said approachdetection unit.
 4. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 3,wherein in a shooting mode, said approach detection switching unitenables said approach detection unit, and when said approach detectionunit has not detected the object approaching, said display control unitcauses said display unit to display the first-type display objects andthe second-type display objects, and when said approach detection unithas detected the object approaching, said control unit reduces a lightemission luminance of said display unit or turns off display on saiddisplay unit.
 5. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 3, whereinin a mode other than a shooting mode, said approach detection switchingunit disables said approach detection unit, and said display controlunit causes said display unit to display the first-type display objectsregardless of distances from said approach detection unit.
 6. An imagepickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display control unitprovides control to display a display object representing an aperturevalue in a shutter speed priority mode as the second-type displayobject.
 7. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saiddisplay control unit provides control to display a display objectrepresenting a shutter speed value in an aperture priority mode as thesecond-type display object.
 8. An image pickup apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein said display control unit provides control to display ashutter speed value and an aperture value in a program mode as thesecond-type display objects.
 9. An image pickup apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein said display control unit provides control to displaythe second-type display objects on said display unit in a display formdifferent from a display form in which the first-type display objectsare displayed.
 10. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 9,wherein said display control unit provides control to display thesecond-type display objects on said display unit in color saturation, abrightness, and a color at least one of which is different from colorsaturation, a brightness, and a color in which the first-type displayobjects are displayed.
 11. An image pickup apparatus according to claim9, wherein said display control unit provides control to display thesecond-type display objects in a negative-positive reversed formrelative to the first-type display objects.
 12. An image pickupapparatus according to claim 9, wherein said display control unit causesthe first-type display objects to look as if the first-type displayobjects were protruded from a background of the first-type displayobjects, and causes the second-type display objects to look likeprotruding to a smaller degree than the first-type display objects, ornot protruding at all, or look as if they were concave.
 13. An imagepickup apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said display control unitprovides control to display a guidance indicating an impossibility toperform touch operations in a display range where the second-typedisplay objects are displayed on said display unit.
 14. An image pickupapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a first housingprovided with said approach detection unit, and a second housingrotatably mounted on said first housing and having said display unit;and a position detection unit configured to detect a position of saidsecond housing to said first housing, wherein based on the position ofsaid second housing detected by said position detection unit, saiddisplay control unit provides control to display information, which isdisplayed as the second-type display objects when said second housing isclosed relative to said fist housing so as to make the display surfaceof said display unit viewable, as the first-type display objects whensaid second housing is opened relative to said first housing.
 15. Animage pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a firsthousing provided with said approach detection unit, and a second housingrotatably mounted on said first housing and provided with said displayunit; and a position detection unit configured to detect a position ofsaid second housing to said first housing, wherein based on the positionof said second housing detected by said position detection unit, saidexecution unit does not execute functions assigned to the second-typedisplay objects even when touch operations are performed on thesecond-type display objects when said second housing is closed relativeto said fist housing so as to make the display surface of said displayunit viewable, and on the other hand, when said second housing is openedrelative to said first housing, executes functions assigned to thesecond-type display objects in response to touch operations on thesecond-type display objects.
 16. An image pickup apparatus according toclaim 1, further comprising a touch detection control unit configured toprovide control so as not to detect touch operations in a display rangewhere the second-type display objects are displayed on the displaysurface of said display unit.
 17. An image pickup apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein in a reproduction mode, said display control unitprovides control to display the first-type display objects on thedisplay surface of said display unit regardless of distances from saidapproach detection unit, and display, in a display range where thesecond-type display objects are displayed in a shooting mode on thedisplay surface of said display unit, the first-type display objectswhich are not used in the shooting mode.
 18. An image pickup apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the first-type display objects and thesecond-type display objects are display objects representing shootingconditions set for the image pickup apparatus.
 19. An image pickupapparatus according to claim 18, further comprising an operation memberdifferent from said touch-panel type display unit, and configured toreceive operations of changing setting values of the shooting conditionsrepresented by the second-type display objects.
 20. A control method foran image pickup apparatus which comprises a finder having an eyepiece,an approach detection unit configured to detect an object approachingthe eyepiece, and a touch-panel type display unit, comprising: a controlstep of, when the approach detection unit detects the objectapproaching, providing control to reduce a light emission luminance ofthe display unit or turn off display on said display unit; a displaycontrol step of, in a state in which the approach detection unit has notdetected the object approaching, providing control so that displayobjects of a first type that execute assigned functions in response totouch operations are displayed farther from the approach detection uniton a display surface of the display unit than display objects of asecond type that do not execute assigned functions even when touched;and an execution step of, when a touch on any of the first-type displayobjects is detected, executing a function assigned to the first-typedisplay object.
 21. A computer-readable non-transitory storage mediumstoring a program for causing an image pickup apparatus to execute acontrol method for the image pickup apparatus according to claim 20.